Boisse, Idaho – While an epidemic of measles spreads through other states, Idaho ends the vaccinations funded by the State for people living in the United States illegally.
A new law recently signed by the Republican Governor Brad Little will interrupt a variety of public advantages for those of the United States illegally, including tests of transmitted diseases, prenatal and postnatal care for women, crisis advice and some food assistance for children.
The Idaho Law, which comes into force on July 1, seems to be the first limitation of public health services since President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to improve eligibility verification and to ensure that public benefits do not go to non -eligible immigrants. Similar measures have been proposed in several other states.
Restrictions on public advantages are part of a broader effort in the states led by the Republicans to support Trump’s repression against illegal immigration. Some states have denied driving licenses, revoked the rates of tuition in the state and increased criminal sanctions for immigrants in the United States illegally. And since Trump took office, there has been more than a triple increase in the number of state and local law enforcement organizations with agreements to help apply federal immigration laws.
Federal law generally prohibits immigrants in the United States from illegally receiving advantages funded by taxpayers thanks to programs such as social security, health insurance, health insurance and temporary assistance for families in need for several decades. But there are some exceptions, as for emergency medical care.
States have had the flexibility to provide other advantages regardless of immigration status, either through federal options, or by funding them only with state dollars. Idaho repeals some of these special sculptures in its state law.
The Republican senator Phil Hart, one of the sponsors of the bill, said that state financing can always be used for emergency medical services, regardless of someone’s legal residence, as well as for services provided to a child born in the United States to a parent who is not legally in the country. But he said that someone else will have to pay the bill for things like vaccinations or prenatal health care.
“This does not prevent anyone from accessing one of these services. What he does is preventing the state of Idaho from paying them,” Hart said in a debate in the Senate last week.
But opponents argue that the restriction of preventive health care – in particular as a measles epidemic in Texas is spreading to other states – will threaten the overall health of Idaho and undermine the anti -abortion position of the state.
“We are very proud to be a pro-life state, and I share this objective,” said the senator of the republican state Jim Guthrie during the debate. “But in this case, the legislation denying prenatal care can compromise the life of the pre-born.”
The new limits of the benefits could also dissuade certain immigrants who are legally in the United States to go to health clinics or to request services, said Valerie Lacarte, analyst of senior policies at the Migration Policy Institute, a non-profit reflection group based in Washington, DC, DC, DC,
“The simple fact of asking for immigration status has a scary effect on people’s participation,” said Lacarte on Tuesday.
“You want so many possible people to get vaccinated,” she said. But “if you start to introduce restrictions, exceptions – just by narrowing which is eligible – it is quite common to see that it propagates confusion.”
Some Idaho health care providers, such as Terry Reilly Health Services, are still struggling with the way to apply the new law. The Southwest Idaho Community Health Center provides medical, dental and mental health services to low-income and uninsured people.
“We are just trying to determine how we can better provide services to our patients while remaining in law,” said Claudia Weathermon, director of communications at Terry Reilly Health Services.
The Idaho Foodbank, which administers two government food programs, said the vast majority of its food is given or bought with given money, which is not affected by the new law.
“We will continue to serve anyone with a need for food,” said Idaho food bank president Randy Ford.
Several groups of industry and religious have opposed legislation, including food producers of Idaho, Idaho Dairymen’s Association, the association of Idaho of Trade and Industry, the Catholic diocese and Mormon women for the ethical government. But the legislation was supported by the powerful Idaho Freedom foundation, a right -wing political reflection group and a lobbying group.
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LIEB reported to Jefferson City, Missouri.
